Ireland bans 51-week student leases

The Residential Tenancies Act was passed on July 12, ensuring that leases will be based on a 41-week academic year, six weeks longer than the typical 35-week academic year from September to May.  

“In early 2024, several large operators of purpose-built student accommodation announced they will offer only 51-week leases for the upcoming academic year,” a spokesperson for the department of further and higher education told The PIE News. 

“This means students would be paying for accommodation during the summer months, which equates to over 25% more for their accommodation compared to this academic year … the idea that they would be forced to pay for student accommodation over that period was unacceptable to this government,” they added. 

Hines and Yugo were among the operators that moved to 51-week only contracts last year which shocked students and led to the ban first being proposed by the minister for further and higher education Simon Harris – who is now Taoiseach – in February 2024.  

GSA, Yugo’s partner company and the largest provider of PBSA in Ireland with nearly 4,000 beds across Dublin and Cork, declined at this time to comment on the issue, and is understood to be considering its options in response to the ban. 

When it was initially proposed, a GSA spokesperson argued that the ban would impact the viability of any future developments, “preventing the delivery of much-needed high-quality student homes in safe, secure, and central locations in Dublin and elsewhere”. 

“A 51-week lease length is standard… and is a popular option that is in line with the private rental market,” they continued. 

The idea that students would be forced to pay for accommodation over the summer was unacceptable to this government

Department for further and higher education

At the time of introduction, Harris said that 51-week leases may suit some international students who don’t wish to travel home over the summer holidays, yet the Irish council for international students has welcomed the news of the ban.

“Many international students return to their home countries for the summer and don’t need to rent accommodation here during that time,” Laura Harmon, executive director of the Irish council for international students told The PIE.

“It also allows others to rent those properties during that time instead of forcing people to pay for longer leases if they don’t require them,” said Harmon.

The Irish Times reported in May 2024 that Dublin had a shortfall of at least 65,000 student beds, which stakeholders said could undermine the growth of the city’s higher education sector. 

Furthermore, the government has said that students who do require accommodation throughout the summer period – such as international students who don’t choose to return home – can request an extended lease from their landlord.  

The legislation, which will apply to all new contracts for the next academic year, also states that students should only pay one month’s rent and one month’s deposit in advance, putting an end to spiralling upfront payments. 

A spokesperson from University College Cork told The PIE, “UCC supports any measures that provides available, affordable, and appropriate accommodation to the market, and our students favour both more choice and flexibility when considering their accommodation options.  

“UCC Campus Accommodation provides 1,536 beds, consistently offered at affordable and below-market rates for purpose-built student housing in the city,” they said.  

“The government’s ‘Housing for All’ policy is clear in its objective to support students and working to ensure that the availability of appropriate accommodation does not act as a barrier to accessing higher education,” said the department spokesperson. 

Upon entering office, Harris pledged to build 250,000 homes by 2030, addressing Ireland’s housing crisis which has made it increasingly difficult for students to secure accommodation.